My neighbor Michelle popped over the other day with her 18-month-old. She told me her son had had a babysitter for the first time. “Because I went to the Ed Sheeran concert!” she said. After I inquired about the babysitter, I asked about the concert. “It was awesome,” she gushed. “I lost my voice!” It made me think that half the fun of seeing Ed Sheeran in person might be singing along and screaming with other fans.
Though an Ed Sheeran show might not be a great choice for your baby, a recent study at the University of Toronto found some interesting results when babies attended a kiddie opera with other babies. The next time a kid-friendly show or activity comes to town—or to your local library—you might want to go instead of watching the same thing on a screen at home. Here are 3 surprising benefits of in-person activities for babies.
1. Longer Engagement With Performance
I used to take my daughter to a baby playgroup that opened with circle time and songs. We’d plop our babies in our laps and sing along with the group leader. The part I didn’t enjoy was the hand gestures (I felt ridiculous.). But the part I loved was the look on the babies’ faces. Wide-eyed. Curious. Happy. It was enough to keep me coming back.
Letting my baby watch a musical show on a screen would be a lot easier. (Plus, no awkward hand gestures.) Even though infants would enjoy it, there are more developmental perks for babies who attend live performances. A research study at the University of Toronto compared babies’ responses to live music versus music on a screen at home. Researchers found that “live music captivates [babies] more than recorded versions of the same show.” In addition, “[T]he live show…had them continually watching for longer bouts of time.” Maybe it’s because the performers interacted with the audience. Or it could just be the fun of watching a show with other people.
Just think about it. When Taylor Swift or Beyonce points to a spot in the crowd, what do the fans do? They go wild! It’s a great experience and a lot more fun than watching the show in your living room. Even at very young ages, babies are experiencing something similar. They’re more engaged for longer periods of time with a performance when they’re a part of it.
2. Higher Quality of Attention
Not only do babies have longer, sustained engagement with in-person activities, but their attention is of a higher quality. Assistant psychology professor Laura Cirelli says the babies who watched the show for her study as members of a live audience “were dealing with all these distractions in the concert hall, but still had these uninterrupted bursts of attention.”
In our tech-driven, fast-paced world today, it’s easier to rely on screens for entertainment—for us and for our children. But there’s something about getting in the car, parking, and walking into a venue that heightens our experiences and allows us to slow down for the next hour or two.
Some activities for babies you might like to try include puppet shows, story time, animal demonstrations, Sesame Street Live, Disney on Ice, Kindermusik, and Music Together classes. Not everything has to cost. I’ve taken my kids to many activities at the library—and they’ve all been free!
3. Increased Socialization
My infant son and I joined a mom and me swim class years ago. The instructor opened the class with songs as we stood in a circle, holding our babies in the water. Like a synchronized swim team, we lifted our babies at the same time and zoomed them back and forth at the same time. And we sang along as our pudgy motorboats laughed and cooed.
In his first year of life, every experience is a new one for your baby. And each one impacts brain development. “It’s well established that socialization is crucial during early childhood development—an infant’s brain is laying the groundwork for future life skills and abilities as it grows,” writes Suniya Kukaswadia about the Toronto study. And “music can play a powerful part in making those important bonds.”
Cirelli’s study revealed that “in a community context, infants are engaging with the music and connecting to their fellow audience members.” If you’re like me and have a hard time getting into the silly hand gestures and goofy tunes when you’re at activities for babies, let me just remind you that it’s only for a brief time in your life. I had to really step out of my comfort zone to sing along at playgroup, but it was a good thing for my child—and for me.
Whether you get to one in-person activity with your baby per week or per month, know that you’re the best mom for your baby! Check out our free printable 10 Ways to Pray for Your Family.
What activities for babies have you tried and enjoyed?
